Today, a delegation from the Russia-Turkiye Interparliamentary Friendship Group of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey visited the Moscow Cathedral Mosque.

Mufti Sheikh Ravil Gainutdin received the distinguished guests after Juma prayer at his residence in the Moscow Cathedral Mosque. The members of the group came to Russia as observers at the Russian presidential election. The delegation included the following members: head of the Russia-Turkey Interparliamentary Friendship Group  Murat Baybatur, his deputy Osman Gökçek, Secretary General of the Interparliamentary Friendship Group Yahya Çelik, and Haji Mustafa Durmaz of the Foreign Relations and Protocol Department of the TGNA. The meeting was also attended by Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Turkey to the Russian Federation Tanju Bilgic and Counsellor for Religious Affairs of the Turkish Embassy in the Russian Federation Omer Faruk Savuran, first deputy chairman of the RBM of the Russian Federation Damir Mukhetdinov, deputy chairman and chief of staff of the RBM of the Russian Federation Ildar Nurimanov, State Duma deputy Biysultan Khamzaev and others.

During the meeting, Mufti Sheikh Ravil Gainutdin emphasised that relations between Russian and Turkish have a centuries-old history.

According to the religiousl leader of Russian Muslims, current relations between Turkey and Russia represent a strategic partnership and are marked by trust and mutual understanding on many issues.

Mufti Sheikh Ravil Gainutdin noted the assistance of the Republic of Turkey in the restoration of Muslim infrastructure in the 90s and 2000s. "The pinnacle of this assistance was the participation of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the opening ceremony of the Moscow Cathedral Mosque," he said.

The chairman of the RBM of the Russian Federation informed the guests that the Muslims of the Russian Federation responded vividly to the tragic events related to the earthquake in Turkey last year. Large-scale campaigns were held in Russia to collect humanitarian aid for the victims.

The mufti thanked the delegation for their political support and participation as observers at the Russian presidential elections.

At the end of the meeting the sides exchanged gifts.